{"id":101717,"date":"2016-05-10T14:43:57","date_gmt":"2016-05-10T14:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/05\/10\/blueink3-conversationswithbenedict\/"},"modified":"2016-05-10T14:43:57","modified_gmt":"2016-05-10T14:43:57","slug":"blueink3-conversationswithbenedict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merindab.com\/private\/2016\/05\/10\/blueink3-conversationswithbenedict\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

blueink3<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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conversationswithbenedict<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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blueink3<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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conversationswithbenedict<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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blueink3<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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@conversationswithbenedict<\/a>, I\u2019m not thinking about the look on Mummy Holmes\u2019 face when John sends her a Mother\u2019s Day card for the first time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not thinking about how she immediately tears up and calls for Daddy because it\u2019s signed\u00a0\u201cLove, John\u201d in his sloppy doctor\u2019s scrawl.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another card arrives with it, signed by Sherlock (at John\u2019s urging, no doubt). And she places them both on the mantle, front and center, so every visitor will know just how much her sons love her.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Jesus God no don\u2019t think about that. <\/p>\n

It will only lead to other unthinkable thoughts, like the day Mummy gets a phone call from John, saying that he and Sherlock would like to come visit on Sunday if that\u2019s okay with her and Da, Sherlock yelling in the background, \u201cWE DON\u2019T HAVE TO COME IF IT DOESN\u2019T WORK FOR YOU, WE CAN STAY RIGHT HERE WHERE WE ARE,\u201d while John covers the phone with his hand and hisses, \u201cShut it, you!\u201d <\/p>\n

Because then you\u2019d end up thinking about her ending the call (bye now, bye, okay, bye-bye, bye!) and turning to Mr Holmes, grinning through her tears, announcing, \u201cThey\u2019re coming up on Sunday! I think this is it, love, the big announcement!\u201d and Mr Holmes\u2019 eyebrows shooting up, as he asks, \u201cDo you think he\u2019s going to ask for our permission? Do young folk still do that kind of thing?\u201d <\/p>\n

And Mummy swatting him with a tea towel and answering, \u201cThey\u2019re hardly that young, silly, and it\u2019s the proper way to do it.\u201d <\/p>\n

DO NOT.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

No, because then you\u2019ll think of John\u2019s white knuckle grip on the steering wheel as they turn into the drive, pretending not to see Mummy already clapping through the kitchen window where she spies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t think of John placing a kiss on her cheek and nudging Sherlock to do the same. Daddy shakes his hand, before tugging him into a hug and leading them into the house. It smells like pine and cinnamon, and there\u2019s a fire in the grate to chase off the chill. John is instantly at ease (or as at ease as he can be, given the circumstances), and Sherlock immediately tackles Mummy\u2019s bookshelf, looking for a specific tome that could be useful in cracking a cold case. John takes advantage of the distraction to hover outside Daddy\u2019s office.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t think about the fact that his left hand shakes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Daddy pretends not to notice John\u2019s shuffling, glasses sliding down his nose as he smiles. Finally, Daddy announces, \u201dIt\u2019s not locked, my boy\u201d and John can\u2019t help but chuckle because no one has called him\u00a0\u201cmy boy\u201d since his grandfather passed. He inches into the office, not noticing Mummy immediately following him until the door clicks shut behind them all.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat can we help you with, John?\u201d Mummy asks when it becomes clear that John isn\u2019t sure how to broach the topic, but there\u2019s a twinkle in her eye and, in that moment, he knows they know. This is just a formality and that makes the knot in his chest slowly unwind.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI, um, I\u2026\u201d he digs his toe into the carpet before giving a brief nod, snapping his shoulders back, and standing to attention.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m in love with Sherlock and I\u2019d like your permission to ask him to marry me.\u201d He spreads his hands out. They\u2019re no longer shaking.\u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s the whole of it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

And whatever you do, don\u2019t think about\u00a0the look Mummy and Daddy share that\u2019s entirely\u00a0too knowing and ridiculously too smug. Don\u2019t think about Mummy stepping forward and cupping the cheek of the man she\u2019s long since considered one of her own.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that a \u2018yes?\u201d John breathes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t think of Mummy\u2019s reply because how could it be anything but.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Why would you do that? What on earth possessed you? Because now I have to work extra hard to not think about the ridiculous grin on John\u2019s face as he struts out of Daddy\u2019s office, proud as all get out, that he has both Sherlock\u2019s love and the Holmes\u2019 approval. <\/p>\n

I am steadfastly refusing to think about John walking into the library, shoulders back, chest out, clearing his throat, or Sherlock glancing up from his book, eyebrow cocked, then shutting his book and setting it aside. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just where did you, Mummy, and Daddy get off to?\u201d<\/p>\n

John pretends Sherlock hasn\u2019t deduced all of this already, probably a week ago, a month ago, a year ago, maybe even that first day at the lab. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust a little business I had to take care of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that so?\u201d<\/p>\n

At this point I am begging you not to think about the sly smile on Sherlock\u2019s face, the way he slouches a bit more in his chair, lets his legs fall open, or the way John moves forward, full of confidence, and kneels on one knee between those mile long legs.<\/p>\n

Jesus Christ, do not think about John digging around in his pocket, Sherlock\u2019s expression one of besotted amusement, then John finding what he\u2019s looking for, re-centering himself, looking up at Sherlock and saying, \u201cSherlock\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

John smiles. \u201cBut I didn\u2019t ask yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sherlock shrugs. \u201cDeduced it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGit.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cIdiot.\u201d Sherlock leans forward and crashes heir lips together, fingers tangling in John\u2019s shirt. \u201cNow where\u2019s my ring?\u201d he asks as John chuckles against his lips. <\/p>\n

\u201cPatience, husband.\u201d<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t, not ever, think about Sherlock\u2019s smile the minute he registers that beautiful, incandescent two-syllable word. <\/p>\n

\u201cNever, husband.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

blueink3: conversationswithbenedict: blueink3: conversationswithbenedict: blueink3: @conversationswithbenedict, I\u2019m not thinking about the look on Mummy Holmes\u2019 face when John sends her a Mother\u2019s Day card for the first time.\u00a0 I\u2019m not thinking about how she immediately tears up and calls for Daddy because it\u2019s signed\u00a0\u201cLove, John\u201d in his sloppy doctor\u2019s scrawl.\u00a0 Another card arrives with it, … <\/p>\n

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